Windows 7: Train Windows To Do What You Want It Too

Alphabetizing

All computers I have had alphabetize files, folders, internet shortcuts and bookmarks by default so you can find them easier. There is an easy way to group these items together or move them to the top/middle/bottom (or anywhere in between) of a directory. Now you can make your computer behave the way you want it too.

For now I'll use files in Windows Explorer as an example. But this works with your browser's bookmarks, internet shortcuts and file folders as well. In the example below "-" doesn't have to be there. I just used it as a separator instead of using a space. But it will work without any separator. I just thought it would look better with one.

Let's say you have lots of files in a directory and you want to group files of a certain file extension together or type (like images or whatever) together. For example, let's say you have several text files you use occasionally but want them out of the way while do your daily work. In the filename add this "z-" like this "z-recipes.txt". By adding "z-" to the filename you are telling your computer you want it to display that file at the bottom of the directory. Adding "1-" will display it at the top of the directory. If you want something even higher up then use punctuation like "!-". If you want a group of files to be displayed in the middle of the directory use a middle character in the English Alphabet like "l-" or "m-".

If you have several sub-directories (folders) in that directory you can re-arrange them using the same method.